By Jason Goldenzweig · Co-owner, DoctorDisabilityQuotes.com · Last updated: May 12, 2026

Principal vs. Ameritas Disability Insurance: Which Is Better for Physicians?

Principal and Ameritas are both mid-tier carriers that frequently come up in physician disability insurance quote comparisons — often as the #1 and #2 best offers by price. They're both strong on true own-occupation coverage at competitive pricing, and the decision between them often comes down to career stage (Principal wins for residents and fellows) and specialty (Ameritas often edges out for attending non-surgical specialists). Here's how to think about choosing.

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Both true own-occP = best resident pricingA = strong attending valueP = best loan rider

Side-by-Side Comparison: Principal vs. Ameritas

Dimension	Principal	Ameritas
Definition of disability	True own-occupation; standard	True own-occupation; standard
Best-fit specialties	Residents, fellows, family medicine, IM	Non-surgical specialists, IM at attending stage
Pricing for residents	Most competitive (often #1)	Mid-tier; often competitive
Pricing for attendings	Mid-tier; competitive	Often most competitive at attending stage
Student loan rider	Among the most generous: up to $5K/mo, 10–15 years	Available; competitive but typically less generous
Mental/nervous treatment	Standard; exclusion common	Standard; exclusion common
Residual disability rider	Standard; well-regarded	Standard; well-regarded
Future increase option (FIO)	Standard; well-regarded	Standard; well-regarded
COLA rider	Standard 3–6% options	Standard 3–6% options
GSI availability	Available at many academic medical centers	Available at select programs

When to Choose Principal

Choose Principal if any of the following apply:

You're a resident or fellow. Principal is consistently the most competitively priced carrier for younger physicians and offers strong future-increase optionality.
You have significant student loans. Principal's student loan rider is the most generous on the market — up to $5,000/month of dedicated loan coverage for 10–15 years during a disability claim.
You're an early-career attending (first 2–3 years out of training) where Principal's pricing advantage is still material.
You're in family medicine, internal medicine, or primary care at any career stage. Principal's pricing tier consistently works for these specialties.
You're GSI-eligible at an institution offering Principal as the GSI carrier (some programs use Principal; others use Guardian or MassMutual).

When to Choose Ameritas

Choose Ameritas if any of the following apply:

You're an established attending (5+ years out of training) where Ameritas's pricing edge over Principal often emerges.
You're a non-surgical specialist — dermatologist (cognitive), endocrinologist, rheumatologist, neurologist — where Ameritas's positioning is particularly strong.
Your student loans are already paid off or close to it, removing Principal's loan rider advantage.
You want a second carrier option on a multi-carrier stack (e.g., Guardian + Ameritas combination for higher total benefit).
You're in your 40s or 50s where Ameritas's pricing is often more competitive than Principal's on a like-for-like comparison.

Specialty-Specific Considerations

For residents and fellows, Principal almost always wins on price and on the student loan rider — these are typically the two most important factors at training stage. For attending non-surgical specialists, the comparison flips: Ameritas frequently quotes 10–15% lower than Principal for the same coverage at attending stage. The transition point is usually around the 2–3 year mark out of training, when income stabilizes and the student loan rider is less critical. For specialty mix — family medicine and IM see both carriers as competitive; dermatology, endocrinology, and rheumatology often see Ameritas edge ahead.

Pricing Dynamics: How They Compare in Practice

Principal and Ameritas are usually closer in price than either is to Guardian or MassMutual. For a 30-year-old resident: Principal might quote $180/month vs. Ameritas at $220/month. For the same person at age 35 as an attending: Principal might quote $380/month vs. Ameritas at $340/month. The pricing curves cross somewhere around age 33–35 for most specialties, reflecting different actuarial assumptions about applicant maturity. This is why we sometimes recommend Principal initially for residents and a switch to Ameritas at attending stage — but with the caveat that switching carriers loses your existing insurability lock-in, so the math has to work out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start with Principal in residency and switch to Ameritas later?

Generally no — switching carriers means starting over with a new application, new medical underwriting, and losing your existing insurability lock-in. The better strategy is to buy Principal in residency with a strong Future Increase Option (FIO) rider, then exercise the FIO to add coverage as your income grows. Adding a second Ameritas policy later is a stacking strategy that doesn't replace the original — it adds on top.

What's the maximum total benefit possible with Principal + Ameritas stacking?

Combined individual + group LTD generally caps around 75–80% of pre-disability income, with individual carrier caps typically around $20K–$30K per month per carrier. Multi-carrier stacking can produce combined benefits in the $30K–$40K/month range for very high earners. The specific math depends on your income, both carriers' issue limits, and any group LTD in place.

Does Ameritas have a strong claim-paying reputation?

Yes. Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. holds A+ rating from A.M. Best, consistent strong claim-payment metrics, and a long operating history in disability insurance. Both Principal and Ameritas are reliable claim payers; the carrier choice comes down to pricing, product features, and specialty fit rather than financial concerns.

Can I get both Principal and Ameritas as a resident?

Usually no — both carriers have benefit-amount caps based on income, and a resident's income typically doesn't support the maximum benefit from both carriers. Most residents pick one carrier (usually Principal for cost) and add the FIO rider to scale up later. Multi-carrier stacking is more relevant at attending stage when income justifies higher total benefits.

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